Combination air and hydraulic motor

ABSTRACT

A combination air and hydraulic motor in which air under pressure is used as the primary source of power. Hydraulic liquid is used as an intermediate linkage between the air under pressure and a mechanically reciprocating arm. A spherical float acts as a coupling means to separate the air and hydraulic liquid and prevents undesirable admixture of air and liquid. Valve means for the air under pressure determines the direction of movement of the hydraulic liquid. Mechanical linkage joins the reciprocating arm and the valve means whereby the valve means is alternately shifted to move the hydraulic liquid in one direction and then the other in alternating fashion to keep the motor running.

[ Dec. 18, 1973 United States Patent [191 Otto [ COMBINATION AIR AND HYDRAULIC MOTOR Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Paul E. Maslousky Attorney-Snow & Benno [76] Thomas W. Otto, 700 N. Rand Rd,

Apt. A-l04, Arlington Heights, lll.

July 14, 1971 Appl. No.: 162,549

ABSTRACT [22] Filed:

A combination air and hydraulic motor in which air under pressure is used as the primary source of Hydraulic liquid is used as an intermediate link power. age be- [52] US. 91/41 A, 91/331, 91/350,

/ tween the air under pressure and a mechanically reciprocating arm. A spherical float acts as a coupling means to separate the air and hydra vents undesirable admixture of air M8 1 2 3 R W4 ,A 4 m/ M9 hm 5. m mr. 8 "e "s L m mm e hF UN 55 ulic liquid and preand liquid. Valve means for the air under pressure determines the direction of movement of the hydraulic l linkage joins the reciprocating ar [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS iquid. Mechanical m and the valve means whereby the valve means is alternately shifted to move the hydraulic liquid in one direction and then the other in alternating fashion to keep the motor running.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS mw m mfl'J "M m L u mlm I 6 fl mnm upk muwo MS JGH 7 78 00446 99999 111]] 5 452 65349 00995 v 409 5 7732 223 8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures COMBINATION AIR AND HYDRAULIC MOTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention i The particular type of motor best suited for any given device depends to a great extent on the power available. If air is readily available, one might select an air motor as the driving means for a particular device; especially if combustion, heat or noise must be eliminated. Also, air power is desirable where pollution must be reduced or eliminated. The present invention is concemed with a combination airand hydraulic motor taking the best features of each. The present invention is concerned with the utilization of compressed air as the basic source of energy while the hydraulic means is employed to give stability to the motor drive means and to provide a means for producing a mechanical advantage. Further, it is the coupling of the air and hydraulic means with floating spheres that differs from the prior art.

2. Description of the Prior Art A preliminary search has been made and the following are brief resumes of the pertinent disclosures.

Blackburn Pat. No. 3,100,965 utilizes gas under pressure to actuate a hydraulic system. A concerted effort is made by Blackburn to-prevent contamination of the gas with the liquid by sealing pistonsbetween the different fluids.

Stelzer Pat. No. 2,151,998 describes a steering booster in which engine gases are used directly on a hydraulic liquid to cause actuation of the device. Also, this Stelzer patent shows a linkage from the steering mechanism to control valving.

Aber Pat. No. 3,234,854 actuates a hydraulic device by the direct application of air under pressure to either of two vertical columns of liquid. Further, baffle means are provided at the inlet ports to prevent splashing and entrapment of air in the liquid.

The Patent to Holub No. 199,978 discloses a motor driven slide valve E with a preceding diverter valve A in a dual fluid system of steam and water.

The Patent of Elmes No. 486,095 discloses a dual fluid motor which includes a liquid reservoir 17 and 18 for the motor 1 and an air valve 6 driven between motor shaft 3 through the linkage 42, 43 and 45.

, Jackman, Jr..Pat. No. 2,239,893 is of interestbein a cylinder to actuate an adjacent slide valve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel air and hydraulic motor.

An important object of this invention is to provide a novel spherical floating coupling means situated between the air and hydraulic fluid.

Another important object of this invention is to provide novel parallel columns of liquid joined by a cylincause it employs mechanical linkage from a pistonrodder disposed at right angles to the columns and means I Still another important object of this invention is to provide a novel combination air and hydraulic motor with manually operable valve means to effect reversal of direction of the output of the motor.

Other and further important objects and advantages will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination air and hydraulic motor of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the device of FIG. 1 and showing the operating interior.

' AS SHOWN IN THE DRAWINGS The reference numeral 10 indicates generally an input pipe for a source of air under pressurefA manual control valve 11 is in the line 10 and the operator may turn the system on or off with the valve 11. A T-fitting 12 joins the input pipe 10 and divides the incoming air under pressure into two passageways l3 and 14.

The passageway 13 is further divided into two passageways 13a and 13b. The extension passageway 13a joins a fixed housing 15 and similarly the extension 13b joins a spaced apart fixed housing 15a. Downwardly extending passages 16 and 17 join the housings 15 and 15a respectively. Each housing 15 and 15a is provided with an exhaust port 18 and 19 as best shown in FIG. 2. Similarly the passageway 14 is further divided into two passageways 14a and 14b. The extension passageway 14a joins a fixed housing 20 while the extension passageway 14b joins a spaced apart fixed housing 20a. Downwardly extending passages 21 and 22 join the housings 20 and 20a respectively. Each housing 20 and 20a is provided with an exhaust port 23 and 24.

A 3-way valve 25 disposed in the housing 15 is adapted to control the opening and closing of communication from passage 13a to passage 16 and to either open or close the passage 16 to the exhaust port 18. As shown in FIG. 2 the valve 25 permits communication between passages 13a and 16 but bars communication between the passage 16 and the exhaust port 18. A second 3-way valve 26 disposed in the housing 15a acts to control communication from the passage 13b to the passage 17 as well as either opening or closing the passage 17 to the exhaust post 19. As shown in FIG. 2 air .under pressure is barred from passing through the valve 26 to the passage 17 while communication ofthe passage'way 17 to the exhaust post 19 is open.

On the other side of the device a 3-way valve 27 is provided in the housing 20 to control communication between the passage 14a and the passage 21 and also between the passage 21 and the exhaust port 23. Similarly a 3-way valve 28 isdisposed in the housing 20a and controls communication between the passages 14b and 22 and between the passage 22 and the exhaust post 24. As presently set in FIG. 2 air under pressure moves through the passage 14a, through the open valve 27 and thence into the passage 21. The exhaust port 23 is closed. Air under pressure is barred by a closed valve 28 between the passages 14b and 22. However, the passage 22 is open to the exhaust port 24. I

An elongated valve operating member 29 is positioned laterally across and adjacent the passages l6, 17, 21 and 22 and by means of short control links 30, 31, 32 and 33 the member 29 is joined to the valves 25, 26, 27 and 28. A handle 34 at one end of the operating rod member 29 permits an operator to pull or push the rod member 29 and thereby control in unison all of the 3-way control valves 25, 26, 27 and 28. It should be understood electrical controls could be employed to operate the valving used to direct the passage of air and hydraulic liquid in the device of this invention.

A reciprocating slide valve 35 passes through the passages 16, 17, 21 and 22 and depending on the position thereof either opens or closes these passageways. The slide member 35 is equipped with spaced apart cross ports 35a, 35b, 35c and 35d. As shown in FIG. 2 the port 35b is in alignment with the passage 17 and thus that passage is open. The port 35a is offset from the passage 16 and thus that passage is closed. The port 35c is aligned with the passage 21 and therefore that passageway is open. The port 35d is not in alignment with the passage 22 to thereby close that passageway. The slide valve 35 is provided with an axial extension 35e. On this extension 35:: there is provided spaced apart stop members 35f and 35g defining the ends of an elongated slot 35h. The slide valve 35 further includes a stationary sleeve housing 3Si throughout the area of the passageways that the slide valve controls. It is between the two stop members and within the elongated slot 35h that a valve actuating lever 36 swings to move the slide valve 35 in a reciprocating manner.

' A first vertically disposed cylindrical column 37 is disposed directly beneath the passages 16 and 17. These passages communicatingly join the top of the column 37. A second vertically disposed cylindrical column 38 is disposed beneath the passages 21 and 22. These passages enter the top of the clyinder 38 in the same manner as the passages 16 and 17 enter the top of the cylinder 37. The cylinders or columns 37 and 38 lie parallel to one another.

A generally horizontally disposed cylinder 39 spans the space between the parallel vertical columns 37 and 38. The bottom of the column 37 is joined to and communicates with one end of the horizontal cylinder 39 while the bottom of the column 38 is joined to and communicates with the other end of the horizontal cylinder 39. A piston 40 is arranged for sliding reciprocation in the cylinder 39. A piston rod 41 on one side of the piston 40 is slidably journaled in the end thereof adjacent the first vertical column 37. An axially aligned piston rod 42 is located on the other side of the piston 40 and is slidably journaled in the other end of the cylinder 39 adjacent the second vertical column 38. The piston rod 42 in the present invention is used as the drive shaft of the motor. By having a piston rod extend out both ends of the cylinder 39 either or both ends may be used as a driving means. Also, there is no differential in effective piston areas on either side thereof because of the utilization of piston rods of equal diameter on both sides of the piston.

The diameters of the parallel columns 37 and 38 are shown smaller than the larger diameter connecting cylinder 39. This differential in diameters of the cylinders in the air-hydraulic system creates a mechanical advantage in the driving output. This is accomplished by the returning of hydraulic liquid to a smaller diameter column r cylinder from the large diameter connecting cylinder. Depending on the sizes of the cylinders employed the air-hydraulic motor of this invention can be made to operate with more speed or more power or may be made to operate in one direction differently from the other direction by having the parallel vertically disposed columns made of different diameters.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a pitman 43 pivotally joins the end of the drive shaft 42 at 44. The other end of the pitman 43 joins a crank 45 at 46. A shaft 47 has the crank 45 on one side and at a diametrically opposite position there is provided a counterbalance 48. For purposes of completing the drive a flywheel 49 is mounted on the shaft 47 and is the mechanical element driven by the motor of this invention. It is preferable that the flywheel shaft be offset from the plane through the drive shaft to avoid difficulties in starting that might occur if the pitman were in axial alignment with the drive shaft. A dead center position could be possible if the flywheel shaft were not offset.

The lower end of the valve actuating lever 36 is pivotally joined to the drive shaft 42 at 50. An intermediate portion of the valve actuating lever 36 is equipped with an elongated slot 51. A horizontal post 52 carried in a clevis on the second vertical column at 52a or on any other stationary part of the device has a pivot pin 53 as part of a clevis at the lateral outer end thereof. The pivot pin 53 is adjustable for in and out movement by means of a screw 54 threadedly cooperating with the post 52. A brace 55 is provided to give rigidity to the pivot pin 53. The screw means permits the proper positioning of the pivot for timing of the motor.

The pivot pin 53 is arranged and constructed to engage the elongated slot 51 in the valve actuating lever 36. Thus as the drive shaft 42 is reciprocated by movement of the piston 40 in the cylinder 39 the valve actuating lever is rocked about the pivot pin 53. The upper end of the rocking lever swings in the elongated slot 35h between the ends 35f and 35g and acts to axially move the slide valve 35 as the lever abuts first one end and then the other.

Located in the first vertical column 37 there is provided a floating ball or sphere 56 which substantially fills the cross sectional area of the column. Similarly a like ball 57 substantially fills the cross sectional area of the column 38. The balls act as floating couplings between the air under pressure and the hydraulic liquid. The couplings prevent direct impingement of the air on the liquid and entrapment of air in the liquid is substantially eliminated. The spheres 56 and 57 are not intended to seal off air from liquid entirely but are free floating in the columns and generally keep the fluids separated.

OPERATION OF THE DEVICE Air under pressure is admitted to the system through the inlet pipe 10 and. an open manual valve 11. With the slide valve 35 in the position as shown in FIG. 2 air under pressure is admitted down through the open passageway 21 and impinges directly on the ball 57 which acts as a coupling between the air and the hydraulic liquid 58. The liquid used in the hydraulic system of this invention should preferably be a free flowing liquid or one with a very light viscosity. The ball is moved downwardly by the air under pressure causing the liquid therebeneath to move downwardly and into the horizontal cylinder 39 to thereupon move the piston 40 axially within the cylinder. At the other end of the cylinder hydraulic liquid is moved upwardly against the ball 56. This upward movement of the ball 56 causes air above the ball to exhaust through the port 35b and thence out the exhaust port 19. When the piston 40 finishes its stroke in one direction the slide valve 35 automatically shifts its position thus bringing the out of register ports 35a and 35d into register with the passages 16 and 22 respectively and the ports 35b and 350 out of registration with the passages 17 and 21. The air under pressure will now push the ball 56 downwardly and reverse the drive shaft 42. Without any change in the system or any manual control imposed thereover the motor will continue to operate in a manner to reciprocate the drive shaft 42 and rotate the flywheel 48.

If it is now desired to reverse the direction of rotation of the flywheel 48 the elongated operating member 29 is manually moved to shift the positions of the auxiliary 3-way valves and thus change the direction of the combined air and hydraulic fluid intermediate its stroke ends and thus immediately reverse the direction of movement of the flywheel. The operation of the 3-way valves causes admission of air to a different passage and I exhausting of air at a different location.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range and it should be understood the embodiment as disclosed herein is only one acceptable embodiment.

What is claimed is:

l. A combination air and hydraulic motor comprising a source of air under pressure, a pair of parallel cylindrical-columns of liquid, a hydraulic cylinder disposed at substantially right angles to said pair of cylindrical columns of liquid and means directly joining continuous communicating one end of said hydraulic cylinder to one end of one of said pair of cylindrical columns of liquid for full liquid communication therebetween, means directly joining and continuously communicating the other end of said hydraulic cylinder to the corresponding one end of the other of said pair of cylindrical columns of liquid for full liquid communication therebetween, a piston in said hydraulic cylinder, a piston rod on said piston and extending out through both ends of said hydraulic cylinder, conduit means joining said air under pressure to the non-joined other ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, floating sphere coupling means positioned in said parallel cylindrical columns intermediate said'air under pressure and said liquid, separate valve means interposed in said conduit means between said source of air under pressure and the non-joined other ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, linkage means extending between said piston rod and said separate valve means whereby movement of said piston rod causes a reversal of positioning of the separate valve means whereby air under pressure is first admitted to one of the pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid and exhausted from the other of the pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid and then secondly alternating for admitting air under pressure to the other of the pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid and exhausting it from the one of the pair of cylindrical columns of liquid by reason of movement of said piston rod.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said floating sphere coupling means are of a diameter substan tially the same as the internal diameter of the columns, and the direct and full opening liquid communications of the pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid with the hydraulic cylinder constitute substantially the full diameter of each of the pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid."

piston rod has an important mechanical advantage.

4. A combination air and hydraulic motor comprising a source of air under pressure, a pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid having their one ends joined with a cylinder disposed at substantially right angles thereto, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod on said piston and extending out through both ends of said cylinder, conduit means joining said air under pressure to the non-joined ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, floating sphere coupling means positioned in said parallel cylindrical columns intermediate said air under pressure and said liquid, separate valve means interposed in said conduit means between said source of air under pressure and the ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, linkage means extending between said piston rod and said separate valve means whereby movement of said piston rod causes a reversal of positioning of the separate valve means whereby air under pressure is admitted to one cylindrical column of liquid and exhausted. from the other cylindrical column of liquid and this action alternates by reason of movement of said piston rod, said separate valve means having a reciprocating slide member, and said linkage means including a support on one of the parallel cylindrical columns, a link, means pivotally supporting said link intermediate its ends on said support, one end of said link pivotally attached to said piston rod, the other end of said link acting to reciprocate said reciprocating slide member of the separate valve means.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 in which said means pivotally supporting said link comprises a thread adjustment for varying the timing of the drive as desired.

6. A combination air and hydraulic motor comprising a source of air under pressure, a pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid having their one ends joined with a cylinder disposed at substantially right angles thereto, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod on said piston and extending out throughboth'ends of said cylinder, conduitmeans joining said air under pressure to the non-joined ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, floating spher coupling means positioned in said parallel cylindrical columns intermediate said air under pressure and said liquid, separate valve means interposed in said conduit means between said source of air under pressure and the ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, linkage means extending between said piston rod and said separate valve means whereby movement of said piston rod causes a reversal of positioning of the separate valve means whereby air under pressure is admitted to one cylindrical column of liquid and exhausted from the other cylindrical column of liquid and this action alternates by reason of movement of said piston rod, auxiliary 3-way valves in the conduit means joining the air under pressure to the pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid whereby the valves are arranged to admit air under pressure to one cylindrical column and exhaust air from the other cylindrical column and upon operating said valves the path of air maybe reversed. 7. A deviceas set forth in claim 6 in which there is included an elongated operatingarm for said auxiliary 3-way valves, and link means joining each of said 3-way valves to said arm whereby movement of said arm causes operation of said 3-way valves in unison.

8. A combination air and hydraulic motor comprising a source of air under pressure, a pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid having their one ends joined with a cylinder disposed at substantially right angles thereto, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod on said piston and extending out through both ends of said cylinder, conduit means joining said air under pressure to the non-joined ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, floating sphere coupling means positioned in said parallel cylindrical columns intermediate said air under pressure and said liquid, separate valve means interposed in said conduit means between said source of air under pressure and the ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, linkage means extending between said piston rod and said separate valve means whereby movement of said piston rod causes a reversal of positioning of the separate valve means whereby air under pressure is admitted to one cylindrical column of liquid and exhausted from the other cylindrical column of liquid and this action alternates by reason of movement of said piston rod, a shaft, a flywheel mounted on said shaft, a crank on said shaft, a pitman joining said piston rod to said crank, and said shaft being in a plane offset from said piston rod. 

1. A combination air and hydraulic motor comprising a source of air under pressure, a pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, a hydraulic cylinder disposed at substantially right angles to said pair of cylindrical columns of liquid and means directly joining continuous communicating one end of said hydraulic cylinder to one end of one of said pair of cylindrical columns of liquid for full liquid communication therebetween, means directly joining and continuously communicating the other end of said hydraulic cylinder to the corresponding one end of the other of said pair of cylindrical columns of liquid for full liquid communication therebetween, a piston in said hydraulic cylinder, a piston rod on said piston and extending out through both ends of said hydraulic cylinder, conduit means joining said air under pressure to the non-joined other ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, floating sphere coupling means positioned in said parallel cylindrical columns intermediate said air under pressure and said liquid, separate valve means interposed in said conduit means between said source of air under pressure and the non-joined other ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, linkage means extending between said piston rod and said separate valve means whereby movement of said piston rod causes a reversal of positioning of the separate valve means whereby air under pressure is first admitted to one of the pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid and exhausted from the other of the pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid and then secondly alternating for admitting air under pressure to the other of the pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid and exhausting it from the one of the pair of cylindrical columns of liquid by reason of movement of said piston rod.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said floating sphere coupling means are of a diameter substantially the same as the internal diameter of the columns, and the direct and full opening liquid communications of the pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid with the hydraulic cylinder constitute substantially the full diameter of each of the pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the pair of parallel cylindrical columns have a diameter less than the diameter of the hydraulic cylinder disposed at right angles thereto whereby the resultant drive of the piston rod has an important mechanical advantage.
 4. A combination air and hydraulic motor comprising a source of air under pressure, a pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid having their one ends joined with a cylinder disposed at substantially right angles thereto, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod on said piston and extending out through both ends of said cylinder, conduit means joining said air under pressure to the non-joined ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, floating sphere coupling means positioned in said parallel cylindrical columns intermediate said air under pressure and said liquid, separate valve means interposed in said conduit means between said source of air under pressure and the ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, linkage means extending between said piston rod and said separate valve means whereby movement of said piston rod causes a reversal of positioning of the separate valve means whereby air under pressure is admitted to one cylindrical coluMn of liquid and exhausted from the other cylindrical column of liquid and this action alternates by reason of movement of said piston rod, said separate valve means having a reciprocating slide member, and said linkage means including a support on one of the parallel cylindrical columns, a link, means pivotally supporting said link intermediate its ends on said support, one end of said link pivotally attached to said piston rod, the other end of said link acting to reciprocate said reciprocating slide member of the separate valve means.
 5. A device as set forth in claim 4 in which said means pivotally supporting said link comprises a thread adjustment for varying the timing of the drive as desired.
 6. A combination air and hydraulic motor comprising a source of air under pressure, a pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid having their one ends joined with a cylinder disposed at substantially right angles thereto, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod on said piston and extending out through both ends of said cylinder, conduit means joining said air under pressure to the non-joined ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, floating spher coupling means positioned in said parallel cylindrical columns intermediate said air under pressure and said liquid, separate valve means interposed in said conduit means between said source of air under pressure and the ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, linkage means extending between said piston rod and said separate valve means whereby movement of said piston rod causes a reversal of positioning of the separate valve means whereby air under pressure is admitted to one cylindrical column of liquid and exhausted from the other cylindrical column of liquid and this action alternates by reason of movement of said piston rod, auxiliary 3-way valves in the conduit means joining the air under pressure to the pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid whereby the valves are arranged to admit air under pressure to one cylindrical column and exhaust air from the other cylindrical column and upon operating said valves the path of air may be reversed.
 7. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which there is included an elongated operating arm for said auxiliary 3-way valves, and link means joining each of said 3-way valves to said arm whereby movement of said arm causes operation of said 3-way valves in unison.
 8. A combination air and hydraulic motor comprising a source of air under pressure, a pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid having their one ends joined with a cylinder disposed at substantially right angles thereto, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod on said piston and extending out through both ends of said cylinder, conduit means joining said air under pressure to the non-joined ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, floating sphere coupling means positioned in said parallel cylindrical columns intermediate said air under pressure and said liquid, separate valve means interposed in said conduit means between said source of air under pressure and the ends of said pair of parallel cylindrical columns of liquid, linkage means extending between said piston rod and said separate valve means whereby movement of said piston rod causes a reversal of positioning of the separate valve means whereby air under pressure is admitted to one cylindrical column of liquid and exhausted from the other cylindrical column of liquid and this action alternates by reason of movement of said piston rod, a shaft, a flywheel mounted on said shaft, a crank on said shaft, a pitman joining said piston rod to said crank, and said shaft being in a plane offset from said piston rod. 